When choosing between vinyl and laminate flooring for your home, it’s important to know their differences so you can pick the best match for your home. Let’s break down some of the biggest differences between these two popular options of flooring.

Vinyl Material and Appearance

Vinyl flooring is made from synthetic materials like PVC (polyvinyl chloride). There is usually a layer for protective wear, a printed design layer, and a layer for the backing of the flooring. Vinyl flooring often comes in sheets, tiles, or planks and is popular since it can come in designs that resemble hardwood, stone, or tile. This means that vinyl offers a wide variety when it comes to design options.

Vinyl Durability and Maintenance

Vinyl flooring is known for its durability. Vinyl is resistant to scratches, stains, and moisture, making it perfect for high-traffic areas and spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. Vinyl flooring is low-maintenance too, requiring regular sweeping but only occasional mopping with a mild detergent. It is easy to clean and resistant to most household chemicals.

Vinyl Cost and Installation

Vinyl flooring is generally a bit more affordable than laminate and other flooring options, making it a budget-friendly choice for homeowners. Vinyl flooring is also relatively easy to install as vinyl can often be found in peel-and-stick or click-lock systems. It can also be conveniently installed over existing floors, saving you a lot of time and money on any preparation.

Laminate Material and Appearance

Laminate flooring is composed of multiple layers, similar to vinyl, including a wear layer, a decorative layer, a core layer usually made of fiberboard or high-density fiberboard (HDF), and a backing layer. Laminate flooring is also commonly used to resemble hardwood or stone for a beautiful floor that is easier to maintain than real wood or stone.

Laminate Durability and Maintenance

Laminate flooring is also durable and scratch-resistant, though it may not be as repellant of moisture as vinyl. Because of this, it is great for most areas of the home, but you may not want to use it in bathrooms, mudrooms, or areas prone to water exposure. Laminate flooring is maintained similarly to vinyl. It requires regular sweeping and only an occasional damp mopping with a mild cleaner. However, they must be cleaned with a bit more caution since excessive water in cleaning can damage the flooring.

Laminate Cost and Installation

Laminate flooring tends to be more expensive than vinyl but still more affordable than hardwood or tile. It offers the perfect balance between cost and practicality, making it a popular choice for those wanting the look of natural wood or stone without the high cost. Laminate flooring is usually installed using a floating floor method, where planks or tiles are locked together without the need for glues. It can be installed over some subfloors like concrete, plywood, and existing flooring

In conclusion, vinyl and laminate flooring each have their advantages and considerations. Vinyl is cheap and durable, while laminate comes with more options for designs. In these Franklin apartments, you will see stunning wood-like flooring and get a feel for if this that is a choice you want to make for a home of your own one day. Whether you pick vinyl or laminate, you are sure to love this cost-efficient and versatile flooring.